Circuit controlling means



May 6, 1947. H. 1 BONE 2,420,065

CIRCUIT CONTRQLLING MEANS Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Shea?.l l

HIS ATTORNEY ay 5, 1947. 1 H, B QNE 2,420,065

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Staa/M l BY @im HIS f ATTORNEY Patentecl May 6, 1947 lv-`llUNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEANS Herbert L. Bone, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 28, 1944, Serial No. 565,547

claims. (ci. 20c- 51) 1 My invention relates to circuit controlling Ineans,l and particularly to circuit controlling means for disengaging external electrical circuits and for operating internal electrical circuits on an electrically controlled missile, such for example, as a certain special type of bomb carried byairplanes, when the missile is released toward its ultimate target.

One object of my invention is to provide circuit controlling means of the type described which can be set and sealed in an unarmed p0- sition until the device is mounted upon the desired launching means and the usual arming means, such as an arming wire is applied, and which will automatically assume an armed position upon the withdrawal of the usual arming means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit controlling means of the type described which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and will at the same time safely and reliably per.- form its intended functions.

. According to my invention, the circuit .coll-l trolling means comprises a plug member, commonly .referred to as a kick-off plug, provided at one end with a plurality of projecting contact lingers adapted to cooperate with the contact members of a standard plug connector permaf nently connected by means of a ilexible cable to the Wiring of the launching device upon which the `missile is to be mounted prior to its release toward its ultimate target. The kiclisoi plug is constructed to t loosely inside a supporting member permanently secured to the side .of the missile, and is arranged to be held in `a xed .or unarmed position in this member by means .of a seal pin until the missile is mounted on the device from which it is .to be launched, whereupon the seal pin is replaced by the usual arming wire in accordance with .standard practice. The kick-oil plus at the end .opposite to the projecting contact ngers is provided with ,a plu.- rality .of contact buttons disposed in recesses in the plug and .each connected to a different One of the projecting contact fingers. Each of these contact buttons cooperates with ,one .end o f ,an associated contact post .slidably mounted in e, supporting member also Aattacher,,i .to .the missile. The contact posts are biased into engagement with the Contact buttons of the plus by `.means of springs which not only serve to provide seed contact pressure between the contact posi-.s and the contact buttons of the plug but which also serve to. .develop ya sizable fonce .on the plug sufncient to eject it `upon l.removal of .the varming wire. Certain ones ...of the posts engage movable aantast .fingers forming part .of .an associated Stack .of .contacts such manner that the ,posts .not .oniyfmake .contact with the .fingers .but also .serve .to more. .there to Vacti-,late .the .associated stack of contacts upon release of the `kick-oli' plug. The other posts are electrically connected by means of exible leads with certain other contact members disposed in the contact stack.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of circuit controlling means embodying my invention, and shall :then point out the novel features thereof in claims,

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. l, 2 and 3 are top plan, left-hand and right-hand end views, respectively, showing one form of circuit controlling means embodying my invention. Figs. Ll and 5 are sectional views taken substantially on the lines IV-IV ang V-V, respectively, of Fig. l. Figs, 6 and -7 are .Opposite lend Views of la plug part I forming part of the circuit controlling means embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar rartsin cach of the .Several views- Refern'ng to the drawings. the circuit 99ntrolline means in the ,form here illustrated sum1 prises a plus part .l which cooperates at one .end with a plug connector 2, and at the other end with a plurality of movable terminal posts .fennine part of an electrical switching means S..

The plug part l, shown in detail in .Fiss 4. 5. 6 and 7, is commonly .referred to a kick-oil plus for reasons which will appear presentlrand comprises .a cylindrical 'block 0i insulating niateritu provided with four longitudinally extending holes 3, A. .5 and s terminating at one end in two transverse grooves .8 Yand S. and counter.- bored at the other .end to lform recesses .31.1, 4.a. 5a. .and 6.a, respectively, The holes 3., 4., 5 @lid- .receive contact 131115 1.0, H, .1.2 and '3- '.lhe pines-re provided at .one .end with enlarged yds lea, lia', .lia and llc. respectively, ,disposed .in ,the recesses 3a, sa, 5a and V611. and are secured .at the opposite ends, as by riveting, to projecting .contact lingers leb, 1Mb, [2b :and 13b. The hedS lila, i ia, lza and ,i3d `.constitute .contact buttons for cooperation with the Iends of the -DIQVOllelY referred to terminal posts, as zwill be .eXplained Vin Vmore .detail hereinafter, while the Contact lingers mb, Hb, lb and 13b are intended .tobe Apl-rlgged into cooperating lfemale Contact `mem- Lbers forming `part of the plug connector 2. 1

'The plugA connector 2 is a lstandard piece of electrical equipment rsold commercially as a Jones plus. and .for `corposa .0i my present plug connector 2 except in one relative position,

thus insuring that it is impossible to make improper electrical connection between the missile and the wiring of the launching device. It should also be noted that two of the holes 3 and 4 in the plug part I are spaced closer together than the other two holes 5 and 6 to polarize the opposite end of the plug.

It will be observed that the projecting contact fingers are held in the desired angular positions relative to the plug part I by engagement of enlarged end portions of the fingers with the sides of the grooves 8 and 9.

The plug part I is provided, in addition to the transversely extending grooves 3 and 9, with a longitudinally extending groove I4, and in addition to the four longitudinally extending holes 3, 4, 5 and 5, with two other transverse holes I5 and IB disposed between the holes 3 and 6 and the holes 4 and 5, respectively. The function of the groove I4, and the functions of the holes I5 and I6 will be made clear presently.

The diameter of the plug part I is such that it will fit loosely within a cylindrical supporting member I1 which is secured to the outer side of any desired portion 20 of the missile for which the circuit controlling means embodying my invention is provided. In the case of certain forms of electrically controlled bombs for which my circuit controlling means is particularly suitable, the portion 29 may comprise a shell which fastens to the end of the bomb. A hole 29a is formed in the Vshell 20 Yto receive the inner ends ci the supporting mem-ber I1 and the plug part I.

The plug part I is prevented from being inserted into the supporting member I1 except in one relative angular position by means of a pin 2| which cooperates with the groove I4 in the plus, and is arranged to be held in the desired longitudinal position in the supporting member I 1, prior to mounting the missile on the launching device, by means of a seal pin 22 which passes through the hole I5 in the plug and through aligned holes I1a provided in the supporting member. Whenthe missile is mounted on the launching device an arming wire 22a shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, is then inserted through the hole I6 in the plug part I and through aligned holes I1b provided in the supporting member I1 and the seal pin is removed. The arming wire is smaller in diameter than the seal pin, and the hole I 6 in the plug is accordingly made smaller than the hole I5 for the reception of the seal pin. The fact that the hole IS is smaller than the hole I5 prevents the insertion of the seal pin in the wrong set of holes. The parts are so proportioned that the plug will be held in approximately the same position in the supporting member by either the seal pin or the arming wire. As long as the plug is in place in the supporting member the missile is said to Vbe in an unarmed condition.

The terminal posts referred to hereinbefore as forming part of the switching means S, are designated 25, 26, 21 and 28, respectively. These terminal posts are slidably mounted at one end in clearance holes 25a, 26a, 21a and 28a provided in a mounting plate 29, and at the other end in clearance holes in insulating bushings 39 mounted in a U-shaped supporting bracket 3| secured by means of screws 32 to the mounting plate 29. The mounting plate is of suitable insulating material such as micarta. The terminal posts are provided intermediate their ends with enlarged portions 25h, 29h, 21b and 28D and interposed between these enlarged portions and flanges formed on the inner ends of the insulating bushings 39 are compressed coil springs 25e, 2Go, 21e and 28e which bias the terminal posts to the longitudinal positions in which the enlarged portions engage the mounting plate 29. In these positions of the contact posts, the ends of the posts project through the mounting plate 29 and the hole 29a in the shell 20 for a distance which is considerably greater than the distance from the underside of the mounting plate to the enlarged heads or contact buttons Illa, IIa, 12a and I3a of the contact pins I0, II, I2 and I3 when the plug part I is in the armed position in which it is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and it will be obvious therefore that when the plug part is in its armed position, the heads of the contact pins will engage the ends of the terminal posts and will move the contact posts upwardly in opposition to the bias of the associated springs to the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereby the springs 25e, 23o, 21e and 28e not only serve to provide good contact pressure between the con tact posts and the contact buttons of the plug but also serve to develop a sizable force on the plug sufficient to kick it out of the supporting member I1 upon removal of the arming wire. The arming wire is held by the device which releases the missile in such manner that the arming wire will be automatically withdrawn from Vthe holes l5 and I1b when the missile iirst starts to move, and it follows, therefore, that with circuit controlling means embodying my invention the plug part I will automatically be kicked oft' of the missile as it is released toward its ultimate target. There is sufficient slack in the cable attached to the plug connectors 2 to insure that the kicking off of the plug part I will not cause any strain on the cable.

The switching means S also comprises two stacks of contacts designated A and B respectively in the drawing. The stack A is shown in detail in Fig. 4, and comprises a plurality of movable contact fingers 35, 36 and 31 which cooperate with fixed contact ngers 35a, 36a and 31a, respectively, to form contacts 35i-35a, 36--36a and 31-31a. The Xed and movable contact iingers are clamped in superposed parallel spaced relation between insulating blocks 38 secured by means of screws 39 to the mounting plate `29, and associated with each of the ngers with the exception of the nger 35 is a reinforcing spring 4U which serves to increase the Contact pressure exerted by the contacts when they are closed. Also associated with the xed contact lingers 35a, 36a and 31a are xed stops 35h, 36h and 31h which are arranged to limit the movement of the associated fingers toward the stops. The screws 39 are insulated from the various lingers, reinforcing strips and stops by means of insulating bushings 4I which surround the screws. v The lower movable nger 35 is made longer than the other ngers and is provided at its free end with a slotted portion 35d the slot of which receives the terminal post 21 with some clearance between the spring 21c and the enlarged portion 21b of the post, whereby the nger 35 is both mechanically and electrically connected with the `-a'plug having' contact members adapted to be connected with the external circuits through the me- -dium of flexible leads and a plug receptacle, a 4supporting member secured to said device for receiving said plug, said plug being provided with a transversely extending hole adapted to align with other holes provided in said supporting member when said plug is in place in said supporting member, a removable pin extending through the hole in said plug and the holes in said supporting member to secure said plug in place in said supporting member, movable terminal posts mounted on said device and adapted to contact the contact members in said plug when said plug is in place in said supporting member, means biasing said terminal posts to their contact making positions with suiicient force to forcibly eject said plug from said supporting member upon removal of said pin, and contacts connected to certain ones of said terminal posts and to the internal Wiring of said device and operated to different positions by movement of said terminal posts.

3. Circuity controlling means for disengaging external electrical circuits of an electrically controlled missile and for operating internal circuits of the missile when the missile is released toward its ultimate target,'said means comprising a plug consisting of a cylindrical body of insulating material provided with holes extending longitudinally therethrough and with other holes extending transversely therethrough, and with a longitudinal groove in its outer edge, the longitudinally extending holes being unevenly spaced and being counterbored at one end to form recesses, contact pins extending through the longitudinal holes in said plug and provided at one end With enlarged heads disposed in said recesses and forming contact buttons and secured at the other end to projecting contact fingers adapted to be plugged into a plug receptacle the contact members of which are connected to said external electrical circuits by a iiexible cable, a cylindrical supporting member secured to the outer 4side of the missile and dimensioned to loosely receive said plug and provided with holes adapted to align with the transverse holes in said plug Awhen said plug is in a predeterminedposition Within said supporting member and with -a pin cooperating with the groove in said plug to prevent said plug from being inserted into said supporting member except in one angular position, a seal pin fitting the one'set of ,holes in said supporting member and the aligned hole in said plug to at times secure said plug in place in said supporting member, the other transverse hole in said plug and the aligned holes in said supporting member being provided for the reception of an arming Wire for at times securing said plug in said supporting member upon removal of said seal pin, and terminal posts in said device adapted to engage and make contact with the contact vbuttons ofsaid plug when said .part is secured Imoval of the seal pin and arming wire,

4. Circuit controlling means for disengaglng -external electrical circuits of an electrically controlled missile and for operating internal circuits of the missile when the missile is released toward its ultimate target, said means comprising a plug consisting of a cylindrical body of insulating material provided With holes extending longitudinally therethrough and with other holes extending transversely therethrough, and with a longitudinal groove in its outer edge, the longitudinally extending holes being unevenly spaced and being counterbored at one end to form recesses, contact pins extending through the longitudinal holes in said plug and provided at one end with enlarged heads disposed in said recesses and forming contact buttons and secured at the other end to projecting contact fingers adapted to be plugged into a plug receptacle the contact members of which are connected to said external electrical circuits by a flexible cable, a cylindrical supporting member secured to the outer side of the missile and dimensioned to loosely receive said plug and provided with holes adapted to align With the transverse holes in said plug when said plug is in a predetermined position within said supporting member and with a pin cooperating with the groove in said plug to prevent said plug from being inserted into said supporting member except in one angular position, a seal pin fitting the one set of holes in said supporting member and the aligned transverse hole in said plug to at times secure said plug in place in said supporting member, the other transverse hole in said plug and the aligned holes in said supporting member being provided for the reception of an arming wire for at times securing said plug in said supporting member upon removal of said seal pin, and terminal posts in said device adapted to engage and make contact with the contact buttons of said plug When said plug is secured within said supporting member, said terminal posts being connected with the internal Wiring of the missile and being biased to their contact making positions with suicient force to forcibly eject said plug from said supporting member upon removal of the seal pin and arming Wire.

5. Circuit controlling means for at times connecting external circuits to the internal circuits of a device and for modifying the internal circuits upon disengagement of the external circuits from the internal circuits, said means comprising a plug having contact members adapted to be connected with the external circuits, a supporting member secured to said device for loosely receiving said plug, removable means for securing said plug in a fixed position in said support-A ing member, movable terminal posts .mounted on said device and biased to positions in which they will engage the contact members of said plug When said plug is secured in place in said supporting member with suii'icient force to forcibly eject said plug from said supporting member upon removal of the securing means, a movable contact iinger mounted in said device and electrically and mechanically connected at one end with one of said terminal posts, and a fixed contact iinger cooperating with said movable contact finger to form a contact for modifying the internal circuits of said device upon disengagement of said plug from said terminal posts.

' HERBERT. L. BONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent: A

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

